Roughriders headed to Ottawa for CFL playoffs

The road to the 2017 Grey Cup game in Ottawa will go through the CFL’s East Division for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Saturday’s 28-13 loss to the Edmonton Eskimos dropped the Riders’ record to 10-8-0, good for fourth place in the West Division.

The Eskimos (12-6-0) finished third and will visit the second-place Winnipeg Blue Bombers (12-6-0) in the West Division semi-final on Nov. 12.

The Riders will cross over to the East Division and face the Ottawa Redblacks on Nov. 12. The Toronto Argonauts clinched first place and an opening-round bye with a 40-13 win over the host B.C. Lions in Saturday’s CFL nightcap.

“The second season starts now for us,’’ said Riders defensive back Jovon Johnson. “We have to win three games and that’s the main thing. We know now that we have to go out East and it’s going to be a long stretch. We have to go out there and prepare.’’

The Riders could have remained in the West playoffs with a win over the Eskimos. Instead, they cross over to the East for the first time since 2005. Saskatchewan was beaten 30-14 by the Montreal Alouettes in the 2005 East Division semifinal.

The crossover was first instituted in its current format in 1996. No team from the West has crossed over and made the Grey Cup game, although nine have tried. The Riders lost crossover games in 2012 (in Toronto) and 2015.

“That’s another aspect, but I don’t think it bothers us because we’ve been successful out East earlier in the season,’’ said guard Peter Dyakowski. “We have three games and we have to take them one at a time. It’s basically a one-game season.’’

The Riders will be preparing for the playoffs without the services of guard Brendon LaBatte, the team’s nominee for the most-outstanding-lineman award. LaBatte was on crutches Saturday after suffering an injury to his left leg in the second half.

“It doesn’t look good and (LaBatte) will probably be out,’’ said Chris Jones, the Riders’ head coach and general manager. “Anytime you lose your best offensive lineman, it’s tough. I don’t think anyone in the league would want to get up in the morning and have that happen to your team.’’

Jones said that Kevin Glenn would start for the Riders at quarterback, with Brandon Bridge filling as his replacement if needed.

“I think for the last five or six games we’ve been going with two QBs and I don’t think anything is going to change,’’ Bridge said. “From my preparation, I’m going to prepare as if I’m starting. If I’m called up, at least I’m ready. If not, I know mentally that I’m in the game to help out Kevin with anything that I can see.’’

The Riders closed out the season with three receivers surpassing 1,000 yards for the first time since 2013. Bakari Grant had three receptions for 38 yards on Saturday. He finished the seasons with a team-high 84 receptions, which produced 1,033 yards. Duron Carter led the Riders with 1,043 receiving yards, followed by Naaman Roosevelt with 1,035.

On Saturday, penalties plagued the Roughriders as they were flagged 11 times for 124 yards.

“We were just undisciplined and we took too many penalties and missed too many assignments,’’ Jones said. “I certainly hope that’s not indicative of what we will do next week.’’

Eskimos quarterback Mike Reilly completed 21 of 27 passes for 294 yards. For Saskatchewan, Bridge was 12-for-18 for 162 yards, with one touchdown and no interceptions. Glenn was 5-for-10 for 63 yards, without a touchdown or a pick. The lone pass by Vernon Adams Jr., was incomplete.

Edmonton opened the scoring at 9:14 of the first quarter on a 49-yard punt single by Hugh O’Neill.

The Eskimos then scored on the first offensive play of the second quarter on a two-yard run by Reilly. Edmonton led 8-0 after Sean Whyte’s convert.

A 30-yard field goal by Whyte at 9:17 of the second quarter increased Edmonton’s lead to 11-0.

The Riders replaced Glenn with Bridge with fewer than six minutes remaining in the second quarter.

Bridge then led the Riders on a seven-play, 65-yard drive that was capped by a 12-yard touchdown reception by Marcus Thigpen. Saskatchewan trailed 11-7 after Tyler Crapigna’s convert at 11:26 of the second quarter.

Edmonton scored on its first possession of the third quarter when Whyte connected on a 19-yard field goal. The Eskimos led 14-7 at 2:46 of the third quarter.

The Riders responded with an eight-play, 65-yard drive touchdown drive, capped by Thigpen’s eight-yard run at 7:55 of the third quarter. The Riders failed to connect on the two-point convert after holder Josh Bartel fumbled the snap. Saskatchewan trailed 14-13 after convert was missed.

The Eskimos increased their lead to 21-13 at 4:58 of the fourth quarter when Reilly scored on a one-yard run and Whyte hit the convert.

Reilly scored on a one-yard sneak at 9:04 of the fourth quarter. Whyte’s convert gave the Eskimos a 28-13 lead and concluded the scoring.

Thigpen was the Riders’ leading rusher, with seven carries for 32 yards. Edmonton’s C.J. Gable rushed 17 times for 70 yards.

Rob Bagg led the Roughriders in catches (five) and receiving yards (50). Edmonton’s Brandon Zylstra had a game-high 72 receiving yards on three catches.

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